Don’t Get Your Hopes Up Part 1–London Paper Questions if Cheney Will Step Down

This is London speculates whether Dick Cheney’s blood clot will cause him to step down:

Dick Cheney has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his left leg, leading to speculation he will be forced to resign as U.S. Vice-President.

The 66-year-old has a history of major health problems, including four heart attacks, and has undergone quadruple-bypass surgery.

He is a driving force in both the war in Iraq and the ‘war on terror’ and his resignation would be a huge loss to George Bush.

The vice-president is the leader of Washington’s neo-conservatives and is believed to be a dominant influence on Mr Bush’s military and foreign policies.

He is also believed to be the president’s closest political friend.

There has been widespread speculation that if Mr Cheney is unable to complete his term in office through ill health he will be replaced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, another personal friend of Mr Bush.

Although there is a risk of the clot going to the lungs, most cases of deep venous thrombosis respond well to anticoagulants. Most likely this will keep Cheney from running around making his usual inane speeches for a little while, but this is not as serious a problem as his heart disease.

I also question their judgement in saying a Cheney resignation would be “a huge loss to George Bush.” Bush should get rid of the guy who suggested he pick Cheney to be his running mate in 2000.

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